[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 29 (Friday, February 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7625-7626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02903]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 35992]


Wisconsin Central Ltd.--Trackage Rights Exemption--Lines of Union 
Pacific Railroad Company and Illinois Central Railroad Company

    Illinois Central Railroad Company (IC), pursuant to a written 
trackage rights agreement,\1\ has agreed to grant Wisconsin Central 
Ltd. (WCL) \2\ overhead trackage rights over connecting rail lines 
owned by Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) and IC, between milepost 
AO 36.7 at Joliet, and milepost AH 41.13 at South Joliet, in Will 
County, Ill., a distance of approximately 4.43 miles.\3\
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    \1\ An executed copy of the amendment to the 2009 agreement 
between IC and WCL was filed with the notice of exemption. A 
redacted version of the underlying 1987 trackage rights agreement 
between IC and UP (as amended) was also filed with the notice. An 
unredacted version of the 1987 agreement was filed under seal along 
with a motion for protective order, which will be addressed in a 
separate decision.
    \2\ WCL and IC are indirect subsidiaries of Canadian National 
Railway Company.
    \3\ WCL states that numeric mileposting on the line is 
continuous (measured from Chicago Union station), but the alpha 
prefix designation changes from AO to AH at milepost 38.5. WCL also 
states that the distances between terminal mileposts on the line can 
be measured without regard to the alpha prefixes.
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    The transaction may be consummated on February 27, 2016, the 
effective date of the exemption (30 days after the exemption was 
filed).
    WCL states that the proposed trackage rights will facilitate the 
efficient provision of service to and from a rail-served logistics 
facility at Joliet, via a switch connection located on UP's line. WCL 
states also that by allowing more direct service and enhancing crew 
utilization, the proposed transaction will improve rail operations 
within the Chicago terminal area to the benefit of WCL, IC, and UP.
    As a condition to this exemption, any employees affected by the 
trackage rights will be protected by the conditions imposed in Norfolk 
& Western Railway--Trackage Rights--Burlington Northern, Inc., 354 
I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in Mendocino Coast Railway--Lease & 
Operate--California Western Railroad, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980). This 
notice is filed under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(7). If the notice contains false 
or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions 
to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any 
time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay 
the effectiveness of the exemption. Petitions for stay must be filed by 
February 19, 2016 (at least

[[Page 7626]]

seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket No. 
FD 35992, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a copy of each 
pleading must be served on Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 
North Wacker Drive, Suite 920, Chicago, IL 60606.
    According to WCL, this action is categorically excluded from 
environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c).
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    Decided: February 9, 2016.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2016-02903 Filed 2-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P